Telling the ECSA Story

"Youth are rarely informed about their rights. During COVID, we’ve imposed ourselves so even the most disadvantaged young people have access to information about COVID. We hold sessions for young beggars and street children so they have information. I’ve been a part of that, and it makes me very happy.”  Bizo Rachid is 25, and getting a degree in Law and Communication in Niger. Even though mortality rates are lower for young people, COVID-19 is still devastating their lives—from job prospects to education to finding food. But they aren’t waiting helplessly for older people to fix it. Youth are getting organized. Of the nearly 12 million people CARE is currently helping respond to COVID-19, more than 3.3 million of them are under the age of 18. In many countries, youth is defined as up to 30 or 35, so many of our stories include people in their twenties. “For this rainy season, I should have been in the village helping my parents with work in the fields. I should have been pr...

Destroyed homes, dispersed families, disrupted businesses, temporary relocation, seem to be the hot potato in Gatumba these last weeks, as the area was hit again by flooding. The feeling of despair knocks you over once there. You can read it on the face of people who lost their shelters, who saw their normal life running through waters. Concessa, a 32 years old mother of five, has been relocated into a school with her family after the heavy rain destroyed her home.   More than one family has to squeeze in one class, with small babies in their arms. They lament that there are not appropriate toilets. Sometimes, they go in the open air, which puts them at high risk of infections and other illnesses. "I’m so worried about my seven months old baby Keza, especially when it rains. During the night, my children can be wracked by severe cold, as there are no house windows where we are. During the day, I can hardly wash her clothes, and her sisters' and brothers’ clothe...

“Mata Masu Dubara [VSLA] members take their social responsibility very seriously towards their community. Let this crisis be a moment that can bind us in solidarity with each other.” –  Mariama Gambo, Niger “We have faced so many challenges that we have overcome. We’re convinced that our collective determination will beat COVID too.”   -Hawa Guindo, Mali Any time I start to feel overwhelmed by COVID 19 and all of its challenges, I take a minute to find out what women in VSLAs are doing to fight back. In true VSLA tradition, they are finding ways to take the smallest investments and use them to change the world. As they have done for  dozens of crises before COVID , women VSLA members are providing solutions that keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe. Supporting these women is an enormous privilege for CARE, and an activity that helps us reach more than 10.3 million VSLA members. VSLAs in  9 countries have already adapted  what they’re do...

‘What makes me feel well in my heart? My goat. . . Every morning when I wake up the first thing that I see is my goat, tied up to the tree. Then I smile. … Someone could come and kill that goat. … But it would not matter. I could get another goat, because I bought the goat myself, with my savings. And now I have the power to solve my problems and take care of my daughter. I never have to be afraid again!’ Minani, Burundi COVID 19 is providing a brutal reminder that stress, anxiety, and psychosocial support are huge parts of the response to pandemics.  Coping with the physical disease isn’t enough . We need to support the whole human and help people manage feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. As Minani tells us, supporting the whole person may come in unexpected ways. Minani is a powerful reminder that if you can help people find stability and emotional support, they can change the world themselves. They can unlock solutions to solve not only their own problems b...

By Ninon Ndayikengurukiye Oh Motherhood, wonders of wonders That’s what parents and elders have taught me That motherhood was precious That a smile from a newborn is Such a song that brings to the seventh heaven But I've realized it takes more than a kid’s smile to be a happy mother Oh Motherhood, river pebble Hopelessness when I realized That I did not have enough milk to breastfeed the bones of my own bones And no money to appease their hunger A great sadness lay in me, which overpowered me I break into tears and wince of sorrows In a tighter timeframe, my hopes to be a good mother darken And I realized it takes strength to fail and still stand Memory, Oh memory, Blue like this scarf with unfathomable depths that carries our pain Drown in my kids’ innocent starving eyes Unable to breastfeed them Beaten like a criminal by the father of mine I experienced long months of hospitalization Beaten for missing breast milk, Body’s milk which I’m not potter Distraught after the de...

My name is Aline YAMINYOBORA. I am 23 years old. I live on Buseruko hill, in Mugina commune of Cibitoke province. I was born in a modest family. My father Jérôme NSABIMANA, a 62 years old butcher and my mother Félicité HAKIZIMANA, 48, a farmer, both manage to provide for their six children: 3 girls and 3 boys and I am the fifth child of this family. Since my young age, my mother has always advised me to study, prepare my future, pay attention to boys who could mislead me and destroy my life but I did not pay attention. At the age of 15, I was in 6 th grade and I passed the national test but could not get the grade required to go to high school. I had to leave my commune to study in a private craft school and I took the sewing option. The school was located in another neighboring commune of Rugombo where I had to walk one hour in the morning and evening. There are lots of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles on Mugina and Rugombo road. People I didn’t know could stop to give me an...

This is the story of Mediatrice, who became the leader of the colline of Bwoga in Burundi to represent women and to challenge gender-based violence. "My name is Mediatrice Ndayizeye, I am married and I have 5 children. I am a farmer and leader of the colline since 2016. I am among the first women to be elected in my community. This happened after several training's from CARE, teaching us that as women, we are capable, we have the right to be elected and we can contribute to shaping the community we want. Before it was difficult to believe that, because I have been taught that women are responsible for the household, and that we don’t have the right to speak in public. When I got elected, everyone in the street was pointing their finger at me. I was a shame to my in-laws and definitely the last woman that my husband wanted to have as a wife at this time. Therefore, we asked CARE to train our husbands as well. That is how the first VSLA groups for men were created...